SAGE Middle School
Newsletter
Middle School SAGE Website
The middle school SAGE website is a great resource for our families and students to use to stay up to date with our middle school SAGE program.
Engage with SAGE
Future Engage with SAGE episodes
Check out our future episodes and see how you can get involved!
High School Edition- December 2nd 11:00 AM
We will be having High School SAGE students from all four high schools joining us for Engage with SAGE. They will be here to answer your questions about high school.
If you have questions you can ask them live or fill out the Microsoft Form.
David Hensley: Business Owner and Local Entrepreneur- December 9th 11:00 AM
Come meet David Hensley, a local entrepreneur and co-founder of a popular Kansas City hotspot.
Video Link:
Please send in a picture of your pet(s) for this Engage with SAGE episode. You can have your child email their IQ teacher through Canvas or email cassie.fogel@nkcschools.org
Teacher Game Day: Winter Edition- December 16th 11:00 AM
Video Link:
Past Engage with SAGE episodes
Check out some of our previous episodes:
Engage with SAGE: Game Time (recorded 11/18/29)- Watch as the teachers play "Drawful." Is there an artist in the bunch?
Engage with SAGE: Patriotic Jeopardy (recorded 11/11/20)- Watch as teachers play Jeopardy. Also, there is a mini slide show honoring veterans.
Engage with SAGE: Teacher Lego Challenge (recorded 11/4/20)- Watch as teachers create an animal out of Legos. Also, there is a mini slide show with fall/Halloween pictures from the SAGE students.
Engage with SAGE with Nate Bukaty (recorded 10/28/20)- Nate Bukaty is a Sportscaster who is widely known for his time as the play-by-play announcer for the MLS' Sporting Kansas City. He has also risen to wide popularity for hosting The Border Patrol program on Kansas City's Sports Radio 810. ​
Engage with SAGE with AY Young (recorded 10/14/20)- AY Young, age 29, a singer- songwriter, dancer, producer, entertainer, sustainability advocate, non-profit founder and entrepreneur, who grew up in Kansas City, MO, has been named "1 of 17" global 2020 Youth World Leaders by the United Nations for a two-year term. AY is one of the first artists to power his concerts with 100% renewable energy. AY Young is the founder of the Battery Tour, which is a collaborative platform that advances the SDGs by leveraging music as a vehicle to drive innovation in performance artistry, energy security, and global relief through sustainable education, empowerment, and experience.
Engage with SAGE: Duffett's Cooking Show (recorded 10/7/20)- Cook along with Ms. Duffett as she makes 3 kinds of brownies.
Engage with SAGE: Teacher Watch Party (recorded 9/30/20) Join the SAGE teachers as they view funny or not so funny video clips.
Curriculum
Circles
G.U.I.L.D.S
Affective
Critical Problem Solving
Critical thinking is a learned skill that requires instruction and practice. Gifted students have been practicing this skill by participating in instructional strategies that engage students in the learning process.
Unit of Studies
First Lego League
Elements and Principles of Design
Arduinos:
The 6th graders are doing an amazing job with Arduinos this year. Even though we only meet every other week, they have been working extra hard to get as many projects done as they can. Everyone has completed the push button light up LED project and the 9 LED bar graph. Many students are now in the process of building and coding the 7-segment light project. All of this is done in addition to learning how to calculate resistors and write/read schematic symbols.
Special Effects:
Like everything in 2020, we had a few technology hiccups at the beginning of the semester with Special Effects. Those are in our rear-view mirror and students are speeding ahead with their projects. First year students are learning the overview of how Premiere Pro and After Effects work. Second+ year students are diving into projects of their choosing. The green screen area has been relocated for easy access and the Padcasters are now all equipped with updated iPads and wheels. Students will be posting their finished projects to the class Weebly in the near future.
Laser Etching GUILD:
This year for GUILDS, Mrs. Shaffer’s class has been using the Laser Etcher to Design with Others in Mind. The 6th graders teamed up with a local business and laser etched some mugs. Students had the opportunity to get a feel for what it would be like to process an order if they had a small business, and in turn, the business owner was able to join the class virtually and answer questions about running a small business.
Biomedical Engineering:
Students in biomedical engineering have been using the design process to solve problems related to various human body systems. They have designed newspaper shoes, a cast or splint for a broken bone, and a tool and procedure to clear a blocked artery. They will soon be creating a recipe for enteric coating on medication in order to protect a sensitive stomach. Students are gaining new understanding of human anatomy and are applying the design process in creative ways to solve challenges.
Exploring Architecture
The architecture explorers have been investigating the careers of architects, interior designers, and landscape architects.
We are working with the Veteran’s Community Project to learn about how they help veterans in their tiny home village. Architecture students have selected a discipline and are creating a tiny home design or outdoor community space. They will be utilizing the architectural process to create their designs.
Art of Engineering UOS:
Stock Market Challenge
Virtual ONLY- Units of Study
Future Cities students are examining city infrastructure and walkability issues, as they continue to work on their design projects.
Imagineering in a Box students are designing park maps that incorporate design elements from the themes they have selected and allow for efficient traffic flow patterns.
Digital Communications students are examining a variety of camera angles, & incorporating them into their trailers and title sequence projects.
Winter Activities
Coding:
Code.org has introduced easy-to-digest, 20 minute interactive lessons that will stream twice daily during Computer Science Education Week, Monday through Friday, December 7-11
Library:
The secrets of KC looks interesting there is also a conversation on the Legacy of the KC Chiefs.
https://kclibrary.org/signature-events
There are some great resources. If you want to do some genealogy they have resources for looking up your family history.
Cosmosphere
https://cosmo.org/education/live-streaming
They have some live streaming events
Zoo:
https://www.kansascityzoo.org/
Seems to be only in person events are planned but most of it is outdoors.
Science City/Union Station
https://www.unionstation.org/sciencecity
has some classes and exhibits but seems to mostly in person. I know the Jumbo max theater is showing Christmas movies. I assume they are limiting the number of guests.
Christmas walk through
WWI Museum Virtual exhibitions:
https://www.theworldwar.org/explore/exhibitions/online-exhibitions
They also have in online and in-person exhibitions.
Nelson Atkins:
https://nelson-atkins.org/plan-your-visit/
Virtual things to do at the Nelson
https://nelson-atkins.org/nelson-atkins-at-home/
Snowcreek
https://www.facebook.com/skisnowcreek/
They are not open yet but will sometime over winter break or early Jan.
ROKC:
Indoors but are limiting the number of participants in the climbing classes.
https://www.climbkc.com/nkc-programs#youthprograms
KC Symphony:
They have some outdoor concerts
KC Rep:
Live stream to your home the Christmas Carol
Kaufman Center:
Themed menus to be eaten at home and cookie decorating kits
https://www.kauffmancenter.org/the-center/dining-at-home/
Christmas lights display drive through:
https://kcparent.com/events/winter-magic-drive-thru-christmas-lights-experience/
Luminary walk:
https://kcparent.com/events/holiday-luminary-walk/
Powell Gardens:
Online Cook class that Mrs. Owsley is taking with her son Cooper:
KC Stem Alliance challenges
VR/AR Hack Dec. 4-6th for high school
https://www.vrokcs.org/fall-2020-hackathon?mc_cid=d82c5aedcd&mc_eid=93ca698408
Cool Science art competition- K-12
Coming Soon...2nd Semester Information
Middle School SAGE Team
Shon Adamson
816-321-4009
Melissa Duffett
816-321-4511
melissa.duffett@nkcschools.org
Jennifer Koch
816-321-6710
Cassandra Shaffer
816-321-5988
cassandra.shaffer@nkcschools.org
Lara Owsley
816-321-4216
Lara.bradleyowsley@nkcschools.org
Cassie Fogel
816-321-4605
Wendy Rust
816-321-6558
Melissa Torres
816-459-0744
Cindy Turner
816-321-6313
Email: rebecca.mason@nkcschools.org
Website: nkcschools.org/sage
Location: Northland Innovation Center, North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO, USA
Phone: 816-321-5646
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NKC-SAGE
Twitter: @NKC_SAGE